About Me

reiki practitioner Virginia Sanders
virginia sanders reiki practitioner san diego
reiki table on the beach in san diego

My Reiki Journey


In 2000, while living in Cape Town, South Africa, I doubted any alternative therapies due to my medical background but with persistent lower back pain, I decided to give it a try as nothing else was working. To my surprise, Reiki effectively addressed my energy blockages and to this day I still don’t have a back problem.  This inspired me to become a Reiki practitioner in order to help others in the same way. 

It was not my plan to do the teacher level of Reiki but my teacher of the other levels was leaving the country.  It made sense to do it just in case I wanted to teach at a later time. When I ran my first teaching class, I discovered that I love it!.  I had no idea I was a born teacher until then.  After teaching a few classes, I realized my students needed more practice.  I wanted to volunteer my services to give back to the community, so we found a local hospital that allowed us to perform Reiki treatments on cancer patients. The patients reported a profound sense of peace and relaxation, but it also eased the side effects of their medications such as chemotherapy. It was a remarkable experience and my students as well as myself got lots of practice. 

Upon relocating to Calgary, Canada, and opening my own Reiki practice, I continued volunteering by providing Reiki treatments at the Ronald McDonald House for patients and staff. This experience allowed me to work with children in a healing capacity which I had not done before.

Returning to my home state of California in 2017, I was recruited by World of Wellness to provide Reiki treatments on the patients of Dr. Tina Edwards. World of Wellness (wowhealingcare.com). Additionally, I began volunteering at the Veterans affairs Medical Center (VA) in La Jolla, San Diego.  The VA started a therapeutic surf clinic in conjunction with the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) to provide Reiki treatments to veterans and CAF participants. The positive impact on veterans prompted the VA to offer me a contract, which I currently honor. In the process of all this, Integrative Reiki Academy was born.

Living and running a practice (and volunteering) in three culturally diverse countries has deepened my appreciation for the respect and honor essential in treating all sentient beings. Through my practice, I provide a safe and sacred healing environment that fosters a deep sense of relaxation and rejuvenation.

To learn more about about Reiki and my journey, read the blog.


  • My Reiki journey started in South Africa

  • I’ve been practicing and teaching Reiki for 20 years

my history

  • Create awareness of the energy around and within you

  • Give tools specific to your issues so you can treat and improve yourself

  • Empowerment

  • Create a safe and sacred healing environment for you

my Goals

  • I earned a Master’s degree in Anthropology from the University of Cape Town, South Africa

  • I’m a Licensed Radiologic Technologist

  • I have a cat named Stewie!

Fun facts